On 6 February 1974 the House of Representatives authorised the House Judiciary Committee to investigate whether grounds existed to impeach President Nixon. The inquiry examined obstruction of the Watergate investigation, abuses of executive power and presidential compliance with congressional demands for evidence.
Following months of investigation and after the Supreme Court decision ordering production of the tapes, the committee approved three articles of impeachment between 27 and 30 July 1974. They concerned obstruction of justice, abuse of presidential power and refusal to comply with House subpoenas.
The articles were never voted on by the full House because Nixon resigned before that stage was reached. The proceedings nevertheless defined the immediate constitutional threat facing his presidency in its final weeks.